Having our feet shod

The preparation of the gospel of peace means that we have applied ourselves to understand the gospel of God. We are not continuing to minister from the basis of our old gospels. Equally, having our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace means that the gospel is at work in our lives, bringing reformation, personally, in our marriages, and in our families. Mat 5:16. The gospel is demonstrated by the way in which we walk, or conduct ourselves. Col 2:5-7. By this means, our peace is able to rest on those who receive our testimony, bringing healing and deliverance to those who receive us. Luk 10:6.

In this regard, we note that peace with God is not just a legal position of reconciliation. It is a vital connection with God. It is fellowship with the Father and the Son, through the Holy Spirit. This is what the messengers of Christ are bringing to houses. They are not just bringing an information message. They are bringing the substance of fellowship to a house. 1Jn 1:3.

It is important to recognise that, as messengers walk in this manner, it is the God of peace, Himself, who crushes Satan under their feet. Rom 16:20. We see that the ministry that Jesus has given to the order of seventy‑two is from the Father. Satan is crushed, and his power over individuals, marriages, and families is broken, as the household receives a messenger whom Christ sends with the gospel of peace. The demonic and familiar spirits that control the agenda of the family are crushed and removed from the house.

The peace that accompanies the gospel, proclaimed in the spirit and power of Elijah, compels what belongs to the kingdom of darkness to vanish. The fallen culture of the house is replaced with the fruit of the Spirit, which is the fruit of sonship. Faith, which replaces the fear of death that keeps a person in bondage, is demonstrated by relational obedience to the gospel. Rom 16:19.

Serpents and scorpions

The authority to trample on serpents and scorpions belongs to the ministry of Elijah. Granting this ministry to the seventy‑two, Jesus said, ‘Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.’ Luk 10:19‑20.

Serpents and scorpions refer to demonic and familiar spirits within families that control the agenda of the household. Num 33:55-56. It is evident that these influences are present when a person gets angry, reactive, or withdraws from the messenger as the word is being ministered to a house. They are unable to hear and meet the word of their name which calls them to stand on their feet.

Characteristically, a household that is beset by serpents and scorpions is unable to fellowship from house to house with open communication. Pro 22:5. There are ‘no‑go’ matters that, if broached, provoke a prickly reaction.

In this regard, those who are beset by these oppressing spirits are like thorns. They cannot be entreated by the messengers who are proceeding from the hand of Christ. Eze 2:6. King David noted this implication of those who resist the word, saying, ‘But the sons of rebellion shall all be as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands. But the man who touches them must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place.’ 2Sa 23:6‑7. The influence of serpents and scorpions, rendering a hearer as ‘thorny’, chokes the messenger word so that the household is unable to the bear the fruits of the Spirit, which are life and peace.

Thankfully, the Lord has given His messengers the authority to trample serpents and scorpions underfoot. In order to trample them underfoot, messengers must make sure that their feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Eph 6:14-15.

Dealing with valleys and mountains

When a person receives the message that belongs to the ministry of Elijah in a worthy manner, every ‘valley’ in their life can be exalted and every ‘mountain’ can be brought low. Isa 40:4. The valleys in our life refer to the identity flaws and frailties that we have on account of sin, the influence of familiar spirits, as well as historical hurts. The mountains refer to our projections and their associated wealth, which have been accrued through trading within the economy of Babylon. These mountains are an impediment to our entry into the kingdom of heaven. As Jesus noted, ‘It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God … With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.’ Mar 10:25,27.

The apostle James addressed this implication of the ministry of Elijah, writing, ‘Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation [valleys exalted], but the rich in his humiliation [mountains brought low], because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.’ Jas 1:9‑11.

The rich man glories in his humiliation because he is thankful that he is being rightly measured to the truth of his name as a son of God. The poor man rejoices in his exaltation because the identity frailties and flaws that undermine his capacity to meet and relate with others, and to express his identity according to his name, are being healed. He is no longer a victim of his circumstances and is able to make straight paths for his feet. Heb 12:12‑13.

Proving that Christ is in us

In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul declared, ‘For your obedience has become known to all … and the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly’. Rom 16:19‑20. Satan is only bruised under our feet while we live and walk in obedience to the word of present truth. The apostle Paul, in his final address to the Corinthian church, spoke to them of an earlier letter that he had sent to them, addressing those among them who had sinned. Writing again, he said that he was coming a third time to address those among them who continued to sin. 2Co 13:1‑2.

The apostle defined their carnality as sin. He described it as contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults, uncleanness, fornication and lewdness. 2Co 12:20‑21. Paul had already taught them that those who practise these things do not have eternal life. Rom 1:32. He then urged the Corinthians to examine themselves to see if they were, indeed, in the faith. In this regard, he was asking whether they were Christians at all. They needed to test themselves to see if Christ was in them. If they could not prove, by demonstration, that the life of Christ was in them, then they were reprobate and lost. 2Co 13:5.

We demonstrate that Christ is in us by manifesting the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self‑control. Gal 5:22‑23. This fruit belongs to those who are crucifying the flesh, with its passions and desires, through fellowship in the offering and sufferings of Christ as members of His body. This reveals the faith of those who are being made worthy of the kingdom. A worthy house is a part of the agape fellowship of a local church, participating in the house‑to‑house fellowship and care of the local community.